A sleepless night can feel endless, but your body isnt broken. If youre struggling to doze off or ... More just desperate for rest, these two tricks might bring relief.gettyThere are few things in life as frustrating as insomnia. Laying in bed, exhausted, but failing to fall asleep can make it feel as though your body is betraying you. Pair this struggle with the painstaking awareness that sleep is essential for your daily functioning, and sleep deprivation can quickly become maddening or even torturous.Yet those who face sleep deprivation may also hesitate to seek help for it. Whether its the fear of dependence on medication, the sheer expense or inaccessibility of healthcare or the simple belief that itll improve on its own, the battle against insomnia is one often fought alone without help or insight. However, it doesnt have to be this way; sleep is recognized as one of our most fundamental human needs, and no person on Earth should have to go without it.If youre facing insomnia, but lack the support needed to overcome it, heres two things that may help you find the rest that you need according to research.1. Resist The Urge To Force SleepBesides obvious medical causes, there are various factors that can lead to struggles with sleep onset. It could be dietary, such as too much caffeine or alcohol, or it could be environmental, like distracting noises or an uncomfortable bed. In some cases, it could just be a stressful day and in others, it could simply be the fact that your body just isnt ready to fall asleep yet.No matter the cause, our most intuitive instinct when faced with restlessness is often to will ourselves to sleep: to lay in bed, close our eyes and pray that sleep will come. However, according to a 2023 study from the Journal of Sleep Research, this is exactly what you shouldnt do when struggling to fall asleep.Much like nearly all of our bodily functions, sleep is a physiological process meaning, in other words, that its automatic. While we can certainly influence it, we cannot direct this process. Think of it in the same way you would breathing: you can focus on it and try to control it, but it can (and should) be enacted automatically. And often, the more you try to regulate it, the more difficult it becomes.This is why one of the most easy, accessible and effective treatments for sleep onset difficulties is stimulus control. According to the 2023 study, this process serves to reinforce the association you have between your sleeping and your resting place or, rather, your bed.Your bed is made for sleeping. Thus, laying in it for hours on end without sleeping can make it much harder to successfully associate it as a place intended for rest. As such, sleep therapists recommend a simple six-step routine for reinstating this association:Only lay down in your bed, with the intention to go to sleep, when you are tired.Try your very best to not use your bed for anything other than sleep (with sex, of course, being the one exception to this.) This means no eating, reading, watching TV, scrolling on your phone or even worrying while youre in bed.As soon as you find yourself struggling to fall asleep in your bed, get up immediately and go to another room. Stay up as long as you want, most preferably, doing something relaxing and not overstimulating like reading, listening to a podcast or working on a puzzle. Then, you can return once you feel that youre ready to sleep. Remember that the main goal is to associate your bed with falling asleep quickly. If youre in bed for longer than 10 minutes without falling asleep, then you need to get up and leave the room.If you still cant fall asleep, repeat step three as often as needed throughout the night.Set your alarm for the same time each and every morning, regardless of how much sleep you get. This will enforce your body to slowly acquire a more consistent sleep rhythm.Avoid napping during the daytime.While this process might seem tedious, various peer-reviewed research studies suggest it to be highly effective in the treatment of sleep onset disorders.As frustrating as sleep deprivation can be, you must trust your body to do what it was designed to do. The harder you fight to fall asleep in your bed without success, the more frustrated you will become. In turn, sleep will only become more difficult. Throughout the process, try to remind yourself that you will fall asleep eventually once your mind and your body are both ready to do so.2. Remember That Rest Without Sleep Still CountsWhile stimulus control is proven to be effective, it can nevertheless take time to get the hang of it. In the early stages, you might find yourself getting in and out of bed a few times in a night before managing to fall asleep. In other words, you might have to lose some sleep before you get some.This, of course, will be frustrating. Before seeing improvements, you might feel that the entire process is counterintuitive or a waste of time and effort. But, again, holding onto this frustration may only lengthen the process.On days and nights like these where sleep feels impossible, and exhaustion sets in theres one gentle reminder that may help: rest, even without sleep, is still invaluable.While sleep is undeniably crucial, sleep therapists implore us to remember that simply resting whether through meditation, deep breathing or even just lying down with your eyes closed can still provide significant benefits.A 2024 study from Scientific Reports on Yoga Nidra, for example, demonstrated that this deeply relaxed state can mimic some of the restorative effects of sleep specifically, by calming the nervous system and reducing stress. In other words, even if you arent sleeping, there are other ways to allow your body and mind to recover.The key is to shift your mindset. Instead of viewing wakefulness as a failure, try to reframe it as an opportunity for rest. If you find yourself lying in bed unable to sleep and need to leave your bedroom (as outlined in step three of stimulus control), you can use this time to focus on relaxing your muscles, slowing your breath or even engaging in a mindfulness exercise.While sufferers of insomnia may be fed up with hearing suggestions like meditation, mindfulness and yoga, theres a reason that theyre so often recommended: theres ample research that lends support to their effectiveness. They have undeniable success in lowering cortisol levels and easing frustration and, more importantly, they make it easier to drift into sleep naturally when your body is ready.If they havent worked for you yet, dont give up. You might just need a little more instruction like classes or YouTube videos on the finer details of these practices.Insomnia can be infuriating; it can feel like theres no way around it. But beating yourself up over it wont make sleep come any faster. Instead of treating each sleepless night as a fight you need to win, try to meet it with patience. Some nights will be easier than others, and some will still be rough. But by giving yourself permission to rest, even when sleep doesnt come, youre making space for your body to do what it needs to do on its own time.Has restlessness become part of your nightly routine? Take this science-backed test, and find out if you could benefit from professional help: Insomnia Severity Index

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Not content with adding multiple new models to its Bravia TV range today, Sony has also unveiled a series of new additions to its home theater home audio range comprising two new soundbars and a revamp of its rear speaker and subwoofer accessory series.The two new soundbars are targeted at the relatively affordable end of Sonys range, below the Bravia Theater Bar 9 and Bravia Theater Bar 8 premium soundbar models Sony launched in 2024. The Bravia Theater Bar 6 is soundbar-plus-subwoofer proposition (the Bar 9 and Bar 8 models dont ship as standard with a subwoofer), while the Bravia Theatre System 6 is a full surround package including a subwoofer and wireless (kind of!) rear speakers.Sony has launched four new additions to its home theater audio range.Photo: SonyThe new additions to the extra speaker options Sony provides as options for adding to its core soundbars are new Bravia Theater Rear 8 speakers, and a Bravia Theater Sub 7 subwoofer. Ill go into detail on each of these new Sony audio offerings below - and as with my article on Sonys new TVs, since Ive had the chance to experience multiple demos of Sonys new home theater audio products Ill also include brief first impressions of them all alongside their official specification and feature information.The new Sony Theater Bar 6 soundbar features the main bar and an included wireless subwoofer.Photo: SonySony Theater Bar 6The BasicsA two-piece system, comprising the main bar and a subwooferDesigned to replace the Sony HT-G700Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback3.1.2-channel configuration, including dedicated center speaker and two up-firing drivers350W total powerSonys Vertical Surround engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround technologies on hand to deliver a virtual surround effectSony Upmixer system for converting stereo sources into surround soundSony Voice Zoom 3 AI voice isolation technology if partnered with a compatible Bravia TV, so you can raise or reduce the level of dialogue in whatever youre watching without impacting the rest of the soundControllable via the Bravia Connect appThe Theater Bar 6 is a new more affordable addition to the Bravia Theater Bar range launched in 2024 with the impressive Bar 9 and Bar 8 models. We dont have confirmed pricing on the Bar 6 yet, but as well as it notably being called the Bar 6 when the Bar 7 slot is still available, Sony confirms that its designed to replace the aggressively priced G700 soundbar, which cost $600/450 when it launched in 2020.During a demonstration of the Theater Bar 6 pitched against a Samsung Q600C (which features the same channel count and almost the same amount of power), the Bar 6 clearly came out on top. Dialogue, for starters, sounded much clearer during a clip of one of the in-plane training sequences in Top Gun: Maverick. Dialogue also sounded better positioned, appearing to come from the mouths of the people talking on screen rather than from the soundbar sat under the screen.Detail of one end of the new Sony Bar 6 soundbar, complete with one of its up-firings speakers.Photo: John ArcherThe roars of Mavericks plane engines enjoyed much more dynamic range on the Sony Bar 6 too, giving their sound much more impact and a sense of raw grunt that helps put you much more convincingly inside the cockpit with Cruise and co.The Bar 6s improved sound staging, meanwhile, delivered a much more convincing and potent sense of the differences in space as the Maverick sequence cuts between the cockpit and outside shots.The Bar 6s sound didnt feel trapped in or thin at any point, and the provided subwoofer fleshed out the bass end of the audio spectrum without sounding baggy, detached or prone to distortion. If this all holds up in more intensive testing conditions with a wider range of content, Sony could have a real mid-range hit on its hands.The new Sony Theater System 6Photo: SonySony Theater System 6The BasicsFour-piece package, with two rears, subwoofer and main soundbarRear speakers have to physically connect to a wireless receiver box, rather than directly establishing a wireless connection with the main bar or subwooferSubwoofer carries the main audio connections and processing5.1-channel system1000W of claimed powerDolby Atmos and DTS:X supportVertical Surround engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround technologiesVoice Zoom 3 with compatible Bravia TVMulti stereo feature lets you replicate stereo sound from front left/right to centre/rears for a party-friendly multi-directional sound boost.Upmixer feature for remixing stereo to use the systems full speaker array.Controllable via the Bravia Connect appDespite comprising four separate speakers to create a true surround sound plus subwoofer experience, the Theater System 6 is actually positioned some way below the Bar 6. In fact, an overview slide of Sonys home theater audio range at a Sony unveiling event showed it slipping into a slot beneath the two-channel SF150 soundbar, which only costs around $140/130!Clearly, then, the System 6 is designed to cater for the lots of power and impact for not much buck soundbar crowd. But does that mean it doesnt sound very good?Sony's Theater System 6 surround sound audio package.Photo: John ArcherDuring two separate demos of the system Ive experienced so far, it really doesnt sound bad at all. Particularly impressive for whats looking like being essentially a budget surround package is the size of the soundstage it creates. It handles its massive amounts of power well enough to fill even quite a large room with a full surround experience without anything sounding distorted or incoherent. Dialogue is impressively clear, too, overcoming right away one of the most common issues with value-focused soundbars.The Multi Stereo feature is an unexpected success, too, as repeating the stereo mix from the front speakers in the rear speakers really does greatly increase the extent to which music fills your room. Surprisingly, the rear speakers achieved a good tonal match for the main bar even in this repeat the front channel sound mode, despite their relatively compact design.I did note a slight funnelling effect when watching film clips, where the rear soundstage feels wider than the front soundstage. Also, although clean and clear, vocals occasionally felt a bit small versus the rest of an action scene mix. But if thats all I uncover during more formal, wide-ranging tests of my own, it wouldnt stop the system from still feeling like a massive home theater bargain.Sony's new Theater Rear 8 speakers.Photo: SonyBravia Theater Rear 8The BasicsOptional rear speaker designed to be added to compatible Bravia soundbarsReplaces the RS3SsWireless connectivityCompatible with Sonys 360 Spatial Sound Mapping Technology, which uses clever room assessment technology to create virtual speakers alongside the rear ones to deliver a fuller surround sound experience100W of power output4-channel amp (2 + 2 channel)Feature both a woofer and a tweeterShips in pairsThe Theater Rear 8s are designed to be direct (and physically larger) replacements for Sonys RS3S optional upgrade rear speakers. The RS3Ses were the more affordable of Sonys two optional rear speakers, sitting below the more powerful RS5s. The RS5s are to continue in Sonys range.Sony went to the trouble of putting on demonstrations at its launch events of the Theater Rear 8s versus the RS3Ses they replace, switching between the two speakers in the middle of various movie scenes. As with all Sonys demonstrations, this one again paid off handsomely in the Rear 8s favour.The crowd sounds around the track and pit while watching the Gran Turismo film sounded much crisper and cleaner on the Rear 8s, for instance. In fact, the Rear 8s make the RS3Ses sound a little muddy by comparison.Detail of the top of a new Sony Theater Rear 8 optional rear speaker.Photo: John ArcherSeemingly superior sensitivity helps the Rear 8s sound more detailed and achieve a more convincing relative level of impact between different details than the RS3Ses do. Plus the Rear 8s produce markedly more dynamic range than the RS3Ses, delivering both a richer, deeper sense of bass and a cleaner, less harsh feel to very shrill effects. All of which makes them sound better matched tonally with the sound from whatever Sony soundbar theyre partnered with.Finally, the Rear 8s project their sound more effectively than the RS3Ses do, helping the rear soundstage to sound larger and more immersive. Not least because you feel less aware of the Rear 8s physical position and existence, making it easier to get lost in the sound theyre making.The new Sony Bravia Sub 7.Photo: SonyBravia Theater Sub 7The BasicsOptional subwoofer for adding to Sony soundbars that dont ship with oneReplaces the previous SW3 optional subwoofer100W power handling130mm driverSeparated notch edgeDesign supports two-way placementWireless connection with compatible Sony soundbarsThe Theater Sub 7 is designed to replace the more entry level model of Sonys previous two-strong subwoofer upgrade options, the SW3. The bigger and more powerful SW5 subwoofer continues in the range.The Sub 7 appears to have been designed so that Sony can offer a more "lifestyle" subwoofer option thats easier to hide away/accommodate in a living room. Its significantly slimmer, for one thing, and its new driver design means it can be positioned either sideways next to, say, a wall near your screen, or facing forwards towards the screen from a position down the side of a chair or sofa.Again, Sony wasnt afraid to demo the Sub 7 in action, running alongside a Theater Bar 8 soundbar to show what a difference it makes to the Bar 8s sound. Not surprisingly, it was instantly obvious that it greatly extended the low frequency response that the Bar 8 can achieve by itself, delivering deeper sounds at a pressure level that didnt sound incongruous with the sounds coming from the Bar 8.The Sony Theater Sub 7 features a strikingly slim design. Photo: John ArcherThe Sub 7s enhancements of the Bar 8 sound are at their most obvious with general deep rumbles of the sort produced by giant space ships, fleets of tanks, approaching sandworms and so on; its not quite as impactful with sharp impact bass sounds. Though it still certainly improves with these moments on what the Bar 8 can manage by itself.I was also impressed by how well the Sub 7s low frequencies "tie up" with the lowest frequencies being produced by the Bar 8 soundbar, leaving no glaring and distracting gap in a film mixs low frequency range.It was striking, too, how adding the Sub 7 actually improved the performance of the Bar 8, as removing the bass burden from the soundbar freed it up to deliver a cleaner, more dynamic response with a film mixs mid frequency range sounds.The Sony Bar 8 picture with a new Sub 7 and two Rear 8s.Photo: SonyI did find myself wishing during a demo of a sandworm sequence from Dune 2 that maybe the Sub 7s low frequencies could plunge a bit deeper still. That would likely be impossible, though, from such a slender subwoofer design and its clear that this design was a big part of Sonys motivation for replacing the SW3. The SW5 is still there albeit at a higher price to deliver another level of bass for people who care more about that than aesthetic concerns.As with the new additions to Sonys Bravia TV range, all four additions to Sonys Home Theater Audio range are set to launch this spring, with pricing yet to be confirmed.Related ReadingSony Unveils New Bravia TVsIncluding A Premium QD OLED RangeSony Unveils Eye-Popping Next-Gen TV Technology And Again, It Isnt OLEDSony Unveils Two New High Performance Gaming Monitors Including A Flagship OLED With 480Hz Support

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Apple's iOS 18.4 update also comes with a warning to update now, because it fixes a hefty list of 60 ... More security vulnerabilities, some of which are serious.Apple iPhoneUpdate, April. 02, 2025: This story, originally published Mar. 31, now includes additional expert analysis on the flaws fixed iOS 18.4, information about bug fixes and details about the other updates issued by Apple.Apple has issued iOS 18.4, along with a number of cool new iPhone features. But the iOS 18.4 update also comes with a warning to update now, because it fixes a hefty list of 62 security vulnerabilities, some of which are serious.Apple doesnt give much detail about whats fixed in iOS 18.4, to give people as much time to update their iPhones as possible before attackers can get hold of the details. Among the fixes, the iOS 18.4 upgrade patches several critical bugs in WebKit, the engine that underpins the Safari browser and the Kernel at the heart of the iPhone operating system.Apples iOS 18.4 patches an issue in the iPhone Kernel tracked as tracked as CVE-2025-30432, that could see a malicious app able to attempt passcode entries on a locked device and cause escalating time delays after four failures.Tracked as CVE-2025-24208, a bug in WebKit could put you at risk from a cross site scripting where an attacker injects malicious scripts into a trusted website if you inadvertentlysupport page.The iOS 18.4 patches come less than a month after Apples emergency iPhone update 18.3.2, which fixed a flaw already being used in real-life attacks.Breaking Down The Bugs Squashed In iOS 18.4A significant number of the vulnerabilities fixed in iOS 18.4 were in WebKit. This shows that attackers continue to focus on exploiting the framework that downloads and presents web-based content, says Adam Boynton, senior security strategy manager EMEIA at Jamf.Another key iOS 18.4 fix is in the Kernel, which is crucial because it manages all operating system operations and hardware interactions on your iPhone, says Boynton. He points out that the bug fixed in iOS 18.4 is worrying, because it allows an attacker to attempt passcode entries despite the device being locked.The iOS 18.4 update also addresses vulnerabilities in Apples Core Media. This framework is commonly used to process media, supporting a broad set of apps and managing data queues in memory, says Boynton. By targeting these vulnerabilities, attackers can corrupt process memory and access sensitive information, he warns.Thankfully, there appear to be no publicly exploited vulnerabilities fixed in iOS 18.4, says Sean Wright, head of application security at Featurespace. While there are quite a few fixes, it is good to see them being addressed, he says.Some people might be alarmed by the number of security fixes being issued by Apple in recent times. However, Wright says this is a good thing. Vulnerabilities are part of software, the important part is that they are addressed in a timely manner. I think Apple has done a respectable job, he says.Wright does point out that some of the vulnerabilities patched in iOS 18.4 could impact a user when chained together. However, he says, these would have to be used in very targeted attacks.While Apple hasnt mentioned any instances of these vulnerabilities being exploited in real attacks, the CVEs are now public, Boynton says. Attackers will likely target devices that have yet to be updated, so downloading iOS 18.4 is essential for all users.Researcher Issues Warning About A New Setting Enabled By Default In iOS 18.4Shortly after the release of iOS 18.4, a security researcher noticed a new iPhone setting had been enabled by default.Apples iOS 18.4 introduced a new option in System Location Services called Improve Location Accuracy and it is enabled by default, security researcher Tommy Mysk wrote on X, formerly Twitter.You can find it under: Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.This option appears to enhance the Assisted GPS (aGPS) network by providing more precise GPS coordinates of nearby Wi-Fi networks and cell towers, Mysk wrote. Apple and Google devices rely on the aGPS database in areas where the GPS signal is weak.The iOS 18.4 feature isnt on for all users, but it makes sense to check your iPhone to see if yours is.Meanwhile, it is being reported that Apple Intelligence is enabled by default yet again in iOS 18.4. In both cases, once youve downloaded iOS 18.4, its a good idea to go to your settings and ensure these features are turned off, if you dont want to use them.To turn off Apple Intelligence now, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence and Siri and toggle off Apple Intelligence.Bug Fixes In iOS 18.4The iOS 18.4 update also comes with some fixes for annoying iPhone bugs. According to the iOS 18.4 release notes, these include several issues with Apple Intelligence.Another resolved issue is a problem where scrolling through Notifications might cause them to flicker or collapse momentarily. Meanwhile issues resolved in Apples voice assistant Siri include a problem where in non-English languages, some Siri suggestions might fail to complete successfully.Apple Issues iPadOS 17.7.6, iOS 16.7.11 And iOS 15.8.4Alongside iOS 18.4, Apple has issued iPadOS 17.7.6 for older devices the iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, and iPad 6th generation. The update fixes a number of flaws, the most notable being an issue in CoreMedia that could allow a malicious application to elevate privileges, tracked as CVE-2025-24085. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 17.2, the iPhone maker warns.Meanwhile, iOS 16.7.11 for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st generation fixes two issues used in real life attacks.Lastly, Apple has squashed the same bugs for very old devices in iOS 15.8.4.Other Updates Released By AppleAlongside iOS 18.4 and the updates for older iPhones and iPads, Apple released Safari 18.4 for macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma, Xcode 16.3 for macOS Sequoia 15.2 and later, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, and macOS Ventura 13.7.5. It also issued tvOS 18.4 and visionOS 2.4 for its mixed reality headset.Why You Should Update To iOS 18.4 NowApples iOS 18.4 fixes more than 60 issues one of the biggest list of patches Ive seen from the iPhone maker in recent times. With such a high number of security fixes, we strongly recommend that users update their devices to iOS 18.4, says Boynton.Indeed, iOS 18.4 and the other upgrades issued alongside it include important security updates for your iPhone some of which have been used in real-life attacks. These vulnerabilities could potentially allow malicious code to run on affected devices, putting data at risk as well as the device itself at risk of a remote denial of service attack, says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET.He recommends all users install the iOS 18.4 update as soon as possible to ensure devices remain protected against these known threats.I agree. Apples iOS 18.4 includes a long list of patched flaws, so its a good idea to apply it now. Go to your Settings > General > Software Update and download and install iOS 18.4 now to keep your iPhone safe.

Quantum computing promises to revolutionize complex problem-solving in finance, logistics, and drug ... More discovery but won't replace classical computers for everyday business operations.Adobe StockComputers, the internet and digitization have been major driving forces of innovation over the last 50 years, but classical computing architecture has its limits.Quantum computing is emerging as a solution to the problem of rapidly cranking up the amount of processing power we can throw at cracking particularly tricky conundrums, such as the vastly complex calculations necessary for accurately modeling the effects of medicines on humans, or predicting extreme weather events.Im not really here to talk about the technical differences, but just a quick primer, in case youre not sure what Im talking about:While classical computers are built on binary bits that can exist in a state of on or off (one or zero), quantum computers process information as qubits, which can be zero, one or, due to the strange behavior of physics when modeled at the quantum level, both at the same time!Difficult as this is to understand without a grounding in quantum physics, the end result is that they are capable of vastly more complex calculations than the classical computers laptops, smartphones, workstations and data centers we use every day.Businesses working on tasks that could be accelerated with quantum computers have a huge opportunity in front of them. That means understanding what theyre good for in order to identify potential future use cases. So, let's take a look.What Quantum Computers Will Be Better AtBuilding machines that arent fixed to the rigid on/off logic is a big step towards building more accurate models of hugely complex, real, physical systems; the world around us, nature, the cosmos and the human body dont operate in binary, after all!This makes quantum computers superior when it comes to tackling problems involving large numbers of variables, like complex optimization problems, or computer cryptography.These calculations are used in finance to structure investment portfolios and assess insurance risk, in logistics to determine the most efficient delivery routes, and in material science to develop new plastics and alloys.Making better drug discoveries is also dependent on our ability to model molecules with an increasing level of fidelity. The chemical reactions and biological interactions involved at the molecular level often dont follow the 1/0 logic.Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be the most transformative technology of the century, and many of the calculations used in machine learning and data analytics, such as pattern recognition, could be accelerated with quantum computing.And another area where its already being predicted to have a big impact is cryptography and cybersecurity. The encryption that keeps the worlds private data safe is based on the difficulty of factoring large numbers a task that takes classical computers an extremely long time to complete. Quantum computers, on the other hand, can crack them almost instantly, leading to fears that some methods of encryption will become obsolete and a rush to develop newer "quantum-safe" cryptography. If your business relies on keeping information secure, this is something you certainly need to be aware of now!What Classical Computers Will Still Be Better AtDespite all the excitement around quantum computers, it's likely that for most of us, classical computers will still be a mainstay of our day-to-day lives.For hosting and managing email servers, running workplace and productivity software, administering databases and networks, classical computers will remain the backbone of IT infrastructure.The increased power of quantum computing doesnt create practical benefits when it comes to running these workloads.Systems we have today, built around structured databases, cloud storage, and storage and retrieval of large datasets, will remain the domain of classical computers.So, too, will the billions of low-powered commodity devices, such as the processors embedded in our cars, home appliances, civic infrastructure and industrial machinery.Quantum computers are expensive, fragile and often need to be housed in environments where the temperature is close to absolute zero. So, for anything that involves computation on a device that sits on your desk and in your pocket, they wont be very practical.The Coming Quantum RevolutionTo sum it up, classical computers will remain the workhorses of day-to-day business technology. Quantum computers, on the other hand, will be highly-specialized tools, designed for solving particular complex problems.Quantum computers will not replace classical computers; theyll work together. Thanks to AI and automation, the interface will eventually be invisible to us, with intelligent agents shifting workloads to whichever platform is the most appropriate.If you do work in a field or industry thats vulnerable to being disrupted by the arrival of quantum, the transformation is likely to be dramatic.In financial services, logistics and manufacturing, as with many other industries, competition for efficiency and the cost reduction it creates is cutthroat; milliseconds matter. This means the emergence of new technology like quantum computing creates opportunities for new leaders to emerge and the status quo to be upended.Its time to realize that it isnt only scientists and computer engineers who need to understand what quantum can do. Professionals, business leaders and decision-makers should be getting to grips with it, too, if they want a head-start on the competition.

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Welcome back to The Prompt,Data analytics giant Palantir is suing the founders of a fledgling startup called Guardian AI for allegedly stealing its trade secrets in order to start an AI company that helps hospitals fight insurance claim denials, Forbes reported. The lawsuit alleges that the companys cofounders Mayank Jain and Pranav Pillai incorporated their Y Combinator-backed startup days after leaving Palantir. There is no mistaking Defendants work for anything but a rip-off of Palantir, according to the suit.Now lets get into the headlines.BIG PLAYSElon Musks artificial intelligence companyxAI acquired social media platform X (previously known as Twitter) in an all-stock transaction that valued X at $33 billion, said Musk. Both those companies are owned by Musk, the worlds richest man. xAI was already training its models on the platforms data. The deal means that Xs models, compute and talent will merge into xAI, which is now valued at $80 billion. X has been struggling with an exodus of users and advertisers after Musk bought the company in 2022, and it faces increasing competition thanks to the emergence of alternative platforms like BlueSky and Threads.SHOW ME THE MONEYCloud compute provider CoreWeave went public on Friday, marking the first big IPO of the year. The company, which rents out access to its GPUs to AI companies like Microsoft, Mistral, Meta and Cohere, ended up pricing its shares at $40, below its target of $47 to $55, earning it a lower valuation than it had aimed for: $23 billion. Its share price closed at $52.27 today. Founded by three commodity traders who bought hundreds of Nvidia chips for bitcoin mining, CoreWeave pivoted to AI in 2019 a prescient decision that has made all its founders billionaires by Forbes estimates.ENTERPRISE ENDEAVORS Anthropic is pairing up with Databricks to sell its suite of AI models to that data analytics platforms thousands of customers that includes Conde Nast, Comcast and Block. The deal, which is worth $100 million, will allow enterprises to build AI agents systems that can carry out specific tasks in departments like customer support and engineering using Anthropics technology.AI DEAL OF THE WEEKOpenAI closed a $40 billion funding round, which is said to be the largest private tech deal in history. But it comes with a catch: $30 billion of that amount will be released by the end of the year, but only if the ChatGPT maker restructures itself into a for profit entity, according to The Wall Street Journal. The investment, which is being led by SoftBank, values OpenAI at $300 billion.DEEP DIVEThousands of people have used ChatGPT to create AI-generated Ghibli-style photos of themselves. Experts say it could be hamper data privacy.gettyAfter OpenAI rolled out new image generation capabilities in ChatGPT last week, social media platforms like Instagram, Reddit and X were awash with AI-generated images that mimicked the style of popular Japanese animator Studio Ghibli, whose cofounder Hayao Miyazaki has famously called AI-generated art an insult to life itself and has publicly been opposed to the use of artificial intelligence in art.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and several other OpenAI executives have created and shared their own "ghiblified" images after the company has relaxed its policies over creating images in distinct artistic styles. These Ghibli-style AI-generated images have quickly gone viral as people have created thousands of portraits of themselves and their families. Others have used ChatGPT to depict movie scenes and historically significant moments like the 9/11 terrorist attacks and John F. Kennedy's assassination. Even the White House posted a AI Ghibli version of a photo of a crying woman being arrested by an ICE officer.The virality has drawn more people to ChatGPT, which OpenAI now claims has more than 500 million weekly active users. Altman posted on X that the trend has added 1 million users, resulting in GPU capacity issues. Our GPUs are melting, he said.Many members of the creator community have voiced their concerns with AI companies like OpenAI training their models on copyrighted works including those from Studio Ghibli. Authors and artists are getting increasingly angry with the large-scale theft that is happening, Ed Newton Rex, CEO of Fairly Trained said.But there are also significant privacy risks with uploading personal images and other sensitive data to ChatGPT. Rachel Tobac, a privacy researcher and CEO of SocialProof Security says some people who are using ChatGPT to create ghiblified selfies might not be aware that the images they feed into it can be used by OpenAI to train future models, unless theyve actively opted out of training. There is also a chance that a data breach could expose the images to the public. If you want to retain ownership of a photo, Ghiblifying it is not the way to go, she said. Some people might think oh, wait a minute. I didn't realize they were going to be training the algorithm on the picture of my newborn. That kind of makes me uncomfortable.WEEKLY DEMOAI startup Runway, whose software is popularly used for field editing, has released a new AI system that it claims can generate videos of specific people, places and things that are consistent across different frames something that AI models have long struggled to do. The underlying models are also better able to understand real world physics and represent them.MODEL BEHAVIORResearchers from Dartmouth College released the results of the first ever clinical trials on generative AI-based therapy chatbot called Therabot. The study, which surveyed about 100 people diagnosed with depression, anxiety or an eating disorder, found that people diagnosed with depression experienced a 51% average reduction in symptoms and overall improvement in well being. That study comes as people increasingly turn to, and converse with, AI chatbots and virtual companion apps.

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Looking for help with today's NYT Strands puzzle? Here's an extra hint to help you uncover the right words, as well as all of today's answers and Spangram.

A CarMax superstore in Colma, CaliforniaGetty ImagesCarMax, the largest used vehicle retailer in the United States, generates more than $26.5 billion in annual revenue and has long pushed the boundaries of digital transformation in the automotive industry. A great foundation that was laid prior to the pandemic ensured that the company was able to successfully ride a remarkable digital acceleration that society experienced during that multi-year period. Given new car shortages due to supply chain issues among other factors, this led to remarkable growth for the company. The executive who oversaw the building of this remarkable foundation is the companys Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Technology Officer Shamim Mohammad. Over the past 12 and a half years, including nearly 11 as CIO and six and a half as CTO, Mohammad has played a pivotal role in evolving CarMax into a digital-first, data-driven company."We became a digital-first technology company and the most comprehensive omnichannel retailer in our industry," he said. "Our customers can buy or sell a car 100% online, 100% in-store or anywhere in between."Evolving Leadership and Team StructureMohammad's dual role as CIO and CTO has expanded the breadth and depth of his responsibilities. As CIO, he focused on execution, security and efficiency. He still does, but now as CTO, his role increasingly emphasizes innovation, customer experience and differentiation. "I had to play both roles very well," he said. "It's about driving execution effectively and also driving innovation to help the company grow."To support this expanded remit, CarMax significantly scaled its digital, engineering and AI talent.Building a Digital BackboneA crucial step in becoming a digital-first business was modernizing CarMax's core technology foundation. The company transitioned much of its technology to cloud-based platforms, enabling speed, agility and scalability. "You need a robust, scalable andCarMax Chief Information and Technology Officer Shamim MohammadCarMaxadaptable foundation," said Mohammad. "We also adopted startup-like digital practices, emphasizing experimentation, rapid iteration and a product mindset."This shift enabled CarMax to build digital experiences that simplify car buying and selling for customers while empowering associates with better tools and insights.Data as a Strategic AssetMohammad described data as CarMax's second most valuable asset after its people. Early on, his team prioritized data governance, quality and accessibility across the organization. "We had great data, but it wasnt organized in a way we could leverage," he said. "We established strong governance, ownership and built a robust cloud-based data platform."CarMax also invested in master data management, analytics tools and a deep bench of data scientists, engineers and architects. This foundation has proven critical to the companys success with artificial intelligence.Institutionalizing AI and Embracing GenAICarMax began using AI and machine learning to streamline operations and enhance customer experience. From product recommendation engines to AI-enhanced vehicle imagery, the company has pioneered creative applications of AI. "We created a patented 'digital sweeper' to clean the background of car images without altering the [images of the] car itself," he said. "Its just one example of how were using AI to improve customer experience."Mohammad noted that CarMax was also an early adopter of generative AI, using tools like ChatGPT before they became mainstream. One internal tool, Rhodes, simplifies access to company knowledge for associates. Another, Skye, enhances customer experience during vehicle transactions.Looking Ahead to Agentic AIMohammad is especially enthusiastic about Agentic AI, which he sees as the next frontier. These AI agents will automate and optimize specific tasks or workflows across the business. "Agents will operate independently with guardrails, whether assisting a mechanic in the shop or a customer buying a car," he said. "Thats where I see the most practical value coming from AI."Agentic AI has the potential to elevate both customer and employee experiences by simplifying tasks and delivering personalized insights in real time.Optimizing the Partner EcosystemManaging an increasingly complex partner ecosystem is another critical part of Mohammad's role. He emphasized the importance of investing in strategic relationships with partners who can co-innovate and evolve alongside CarMax. "You have to identify your most strategic partners and engage with their product and engineering teams," he underscored. "Also, stay close to startups and venture-backed innovators who are pushing boundaries." He noted that this provides early insights into topic areas such as agentic AI where the company needs to develop a perspective on its potential uses to a company like CarMax. He also noted the importance of flexibility, recommending that companies build architectures that allow them to swap partners in and out based on innovation performance.The Enduring Power of the Product Operating ModelCarMax was one of the earliest adopters of the product operating model, defining product areas to staff cross-functionally to innovate in the areas defined on a perpetual basis. These days, the model is widely believed to be a better way to align resources with business outcomes. That model remains core to CarMaxs culture and strategy. The product organization has grown in size and strategic influence, with over 70 product teams now driving innovation across retail, supply and platform functions.Mohammad marveled at the scalability and resilience of the model. "Those foundational principles remain unchanged," he said. "We just evolved how we organize around retail, supply and shared platforms. The model enables our digital-first strategy."Staying the CourseMohammad attributes much of his success and longevity at CarMax to the companys culture of collaboration and mission-driven innovation. "It doesnt feel like Ive been here 13 years," he said. "Im more excited now than when I started because the opportunities ahead are immense."He believes that staying with one organization has allowed him to see transformation cycles through, creating long-term value and sustainable innovation. Also, as his responsibilities have grown, the opportunities for his team have grown with it, providing exceptional careers for many team members.A Nimble MindsetAs he looks to the future, Mohammad remains focused on one core principle: positioning the organization for rapid change."Thats what I said nine years ago, and its even more true today," he said. "If you stay nimble and invest in Agentic AI, youll be ready for whatever comes next."Through his forward leaning leadership and relentless focus on innovation, Shamim Mohammad continues to help CarMax define the future of digital retail in the automotive space.Peter High is President of Metis Strategy, a business and IT advisory firm. He has written three bestselling books, including his latest Getting to Nimble. He also moderates the Technovation podcast series and speaks at conferences around the world. Follow him on Twitter @PeterAHigh.

Some species in the animal kingdom will eat just about anything. Others have much stricter diets. This arctic predator falls into the latter category, subsisting on a single, protein-rich food source.

Here's some help with today's Quordle, including hints and the answers.gettyLooking for Tuesdays NYT Connections hints, clues and answers instead? You can find them here:Annnd breathe. I hope yesterdays April Fools Day edition of Connections didnt break too many of your streaks. It was a fun one! Back to normality today. Or maybe not? Well see soon enough!Oh yes, I have to do my thing.Its Wednesday, and you know what that means: its time for another round of Connections!Before we begin, Ive set up a discussion group for NYT Connections and this column on Discord. We have a great little community over there and we chat about more than NYT games. Everyone who has joined has been lovely. Its a fun hangout spot.Its also the best way to give me any feedback about the column, especially on the rare(!) occasions that I mess something up since I dont look at the comments or Twitter much.Todays NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, April 2, are coming right up.How To Play ConnectionsConnections is a free, popular New York Times daily word game. You get a new puzzle at midnight every day. You can play on the Youre presented with a grid of 16 words. Your task is to arrange them into four groups of four by figuring out the links between them. The groups could be things like items you can click, names for research study participants or words preceded by a body part.Theres only one solution for each puzzle, and youll need to be careful when it comes to words that might fit into more than one category. You can shuffle the words to perhaps help you see links between them.Each group is color coded. The yellow group is usually the easiest to figure out, blue and green fall in the middle, and the purple group is usually the most difficult one. The purple group often involves wordplay.Select four words you think go together and press Submit. If you make a guess and youre incorrect, youll lose a life. If youre close to having a correct group, you might see a message telling you that youre one word away from getting it right, but youll still need to figure out which one to swap.If you make four mistakes, its game over. Lets make sure that doesnt happen with the help of some hints, and, if youre really struggling, todays Connections answers. As with Wordle and other similar games, its easy to share results with your friends on social media and group chats.If you have an NYT All Access or Games subscription, you can access the publications Connections archive. This includes every previous game of Connections, so you can go back and play any of those that you have missed.Aside from the first 60 games or so, you should be able to find my hints via Google if you need them! Just click here and add the date of the game for which you need clues or the answers to the search query.What Are Todays Connections Hints?Scroll slowly! Just after the hints for each of todays Connections groups, Ill reveal what the groups are without immediately telling you which words go into them.Todays 16 words (well, symbols) are...FANCYREADINGNICEIMPULSEJOBTYPELIKEVENUSKINDHERBROBINLARKTENNESSEEWHIMSORTHANKAnd the hints for todays Connections groups are:Yellow group sudden idea or a spontaneous activity, perhapsGreen group classificationBlue group like John, Michelle and MaisiePurple group like polish and mobileWhat Are Todays Connections Groups?Need some extra help?Be warned: were starting to get into spoiler territory.Todays Connections groups are...Yellow group capriceGreen group ilkBlue group WilliamsesPurple group words pronounced differently as proper nounsWhat Are Todays Connections Answers?Spoiler alert! Dont scroll any further down the page until youre ready to find out todays Connections answers.This is your final warning!Todays Connections answers are...Yellow group caprice (FANCY, IMPULSE, LARK, WHIM)Green group ilk (KIND, LIKE, SORT, TYPE)Blue group Williamses (HANK, ROBIN, TENNESSEE, VENUS)Purple group words pronounced differently as proper nouns (HERB, JOB, NICE, READING)My record streak rolls on with a 36th win and a perfect game. Here's how I fared: TENNESSEE and VENUS were dead giveaways for the blues. Its been over a decade since he passed and I still miss Robin Williams so very much. Not only was he incredibly funny and seemingly just as kind, he was a big gamer! He famously named his daughter Zelda (after the character in Nintendos The Legend of Zelda series) and he was very much into Call of Duty as well.Anyway, the yellows were up next, though it took me a moment to realize FANCY should go with them (as in "a flight of fancy"). I've never heard of the word "caprice" before, so hey, I learned something today!From there, the greens seemed pretty obvious to me, and you know what that means I had to submit the purple group first. I didn't deduce the connection before sliding those through, especially because I always pronounce HERB the proper way, with the "h."As far as the proper nouns go, HERB is a person's name as is JOB ("johb"), in the sense of the biblical figure. NICE (like "niece") is a city in France, and READING ("red-ding") is a place in England or Pennsylvania.Thats all there is to it for todays Connections clues and answers. Be sure to check my blog tomorrow for hints and the solution for Thursdays game if you need them.P.S. Lets go with a song by a different Williams Hayley Williams and her band. I never got super into Paramore, but they have a few songs I like a ton. None more so than "Hard Times." It has quite a juxtaposition between the downbeat, serious lyrics and the funky track and colorful video. In any case, it rarely fails to get me moving:Have a great day! Stay hydrated! Call someone you love!If youre so inclined, please follow my blog for more coverage of NYT Connections and other word games and even some video game news, insights and analysis. It helps me out a lot! Sharing this column with other people who play Connections would be appreciated too Also, follow me on Bluesky! Its fun there.

This is NOT the Xbox handheld you're looking for. Here's why the recent teaser trailer from ASUS is generating hype for all the wrong reasons.